Control apparatus for traveling letter signs



Oct. 24, 1950 G. MGG. PIERCE T CONTROL APPARATUS FOR TRAVELING LETTER SI-GNS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1947 I N VEN TOR. 660 965 Mr 6am; P/PC" Oct. 24, 1950 G. M G. PIERCE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR TRAVELING Filed June 9, 1947 LETTER SIGNS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I V I INVENTOR.

660255 Ma 604 5 p/e ce Oct, 24, 1950 6. M06. PIERCE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR TRAVELING LETTER SIGNS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 9, 1947 JNVENTORf 650,965 Ma Gum; P/QQCE G. M G. PKERCE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR TRAVELING LETTER SIGNS Oct. 24, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 9, 1947 IN VEN TOR:

Arrow/E 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 G. MCG. PIERCE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR TRAVELING LETTER SIGNS Filed June 9', 1947 Oct. 24, 1950 IN VEN TOR: 650265 Ma Gu/PE fleece WM grraeu 5 Oct. 24, 1950 e. M G. PIERCE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR TRAVELING LETTER SIGNS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 9, 1947 INVENTOR.

650px Ma Gwee Heeca Patented Oct. 24, 1 950 ooN'rRoL APPARATUS, FOR TRAVELING LETTER SIGNS George McGuire Pierce, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 9, 1947, Serial No. 753,504

2 Claims.

the'short interval of lamp energization, to the thermal lag of the filament'of the lamp is'such that the lamp is not energized for a period sufficiently long to attain normal brillance. It is not satisfactory to reduce the thermal lag because this would require the design of a special lamp and make it impossible to use commercial lamps now on the market. Also, it is not satisfactory to increase the length of the perforation in the tape because this slows up the message; According to the invention, from ten to twenty perforations per second canbe employed in the tape with brilliant illumination of the lamps, by employing the usual household electric lamp intended for 120-volt supply circuit and by energizing such lamps with a super-normal voltage viz., 145 to 150 volts. If a lamp were constantly supplied with that high voltage, it would soonburnout, but tests have shown that the life of the lamp is not materially affected in this case as the application of such Voltage is only for a brief instant, under control of the perforated tape.

Another feature of the invention relates to change over apparatus so that at the end of a message on One tape, a second message on a second tape can be switched in instantly. This is accomplished by providing a pair of perforated tapes each having a contact plate, with one shoe having a cc-ordinate array of yielding contacts,

with means for guiding the shoe out of operative relation with one of the tapes and into operative relation with the other tape. To insure continu-. ous operation, two shoes may be provided so that one may be used as a spare for the other. The spare shoe may pick up the same message from one tape, or it may pick up the same or another message if two tapes are used.

Another feature of the invention relates to facilitating replacement or repair of the contacts in case of wear. This is accomplished by making the yielding contacts of comparatively hard metal and the contact plate of softer metal, with means for readily removing the contact plate for replacement by a new plate. The invention also provides an improved form of yielding or spring pressed contact whereby the lamp circuit for a particular 2 contact may be readily removed or changed and whereby either the spring for a sliding contact or the contact itself may be readily adjusted, removed or replaced. Also the yielding contacts terminate in jacks and each lamp circuit terminates in a plug whereby the lamp circuits can be readily disconnected from the shoe, for repairing the shoe.

Another feature of the invention relates to the drive for propelling or traversing the tape along the tape path between the contact plate and the yielding contacts. According to the invention this drive comprises an idle film sprocket, the tape preferably being 35 mm. motion picture film, at the lagging side of the film path, with a friction drive spool at the leading side of the film path. Tests have shown that this type of drive will maintain the film accurately in its path, where, for example, seven rows of contacts lengthwise of the film are employed for the formation of the message perforated in corresponding seven rows of apertures lengthwise of the film. Preferably means are provided for adjusting the frictional engagement of the film with its friction drive roller. The friction drive is preferably provided at separated places lengthwise'of the same film path whereby a short length of film may be threaded across a given sprocket and its associated friction drive, or a longer length of film may be threaded from that film sprocket to the friction drive of the next unit, the support for the contact shoes making it possible to shift either contact shoe in line with the same film path to establish contact for either the short film or the long film.

The invention also provides an improved magazine for the film whereby the film is stored in a plurality of loops and these loops may fill the entire magazine for a message of maximum length or these loops may fill only a part of the magazine for a shorter message, a free loop, which is short for the short message and long for the long message, being provided at th outside of the magazine in position for threading through the contact apparatus when the magazine is in place in its casing. A removable support for the magazine and doors at opposite sides of the magazine make it possible to mount the magazine in operative relation to either one of two film paths at opposite sides ofthe casing. The doors at the opposite sides of the magazine may, of course, be kept closed to protect the stored film when the magazine is not in use and such doors, in fact, can remain closed while the magazine is in use,

the magazine having suitable apertures to lead the film from the magazine through either a short length, or the full length of the film ath through the electrical contacts.

Another feature of th invention relates to a monitor, and makes it possible for the operator at the tape apparatus to see whether the apparatus is functioning properly by examining a local monitor panel having a co-ordinate array of lamps corresponding to the array on one or more signs at a remote point, making it unnecessary for the operator to set the apparatus in motion and go to the remote point to check the operation. The operator can also watch the monitor panel and thereby watch the traveling message being spelled out on the remote sign to thereby check the operation of the apparatus. By way of example, the remote point may be the top of a bus or other vehicle where the sign or signs are located, while the control apparatus and the monitor panel may be arranged inside of the vehicle or the like. 1 Preferably a plurality of signs are employed, and the control apparatus makes it possible either to produce the same traveling message on all signs or one message may appear on certain of the signs,and another message on the other signs.

The shadow box device for shading the signs from the sunlight or daylight is disclosed and claimed in the following cases, Design Letters Patent No. 152,433, dated January 18, 1949, for

Traveling Letter Advertising Sign for Vehicles;

s. N. 751,822, filed June 2, 1947, for Shadow Box Device for Traveling Letter Sign. 7 i

For further details of the invention, reference may be made to the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of control apparatus according to the present invention. n

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view above and showing the switching means of Fig. 1 inplan view, with parts broken away. I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2. V F V Figsgi, 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional views on lines of the corresponding numbers in Fig. looking in the direction of the arrows. H I Fig. 7 is an end view in elevation, lookingin the direction of the arrow I in Fig. 3, sho wing the head in raised position in dotted line.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view on line B3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view on line 99 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view through the front of one of the magazines and showing the magazine support.

7 Figs. 11 and 12 are enlarged sectional views on lines of the corresponding numbers in Fig. 10. v V Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a vehicle havin signs operated by control apparatus of this invention, parts being broken away.

Fig. 14 is a schematic wiring diagram of the lamp circuits controlled by the control apparatus of the other figures.

Referring in detail to the drawings, Fig. 13 shows a sign I which extends substantially the full length of the roof 2 of. a truck 3, the central portion of this sign being broken away in order to show other features. A similar and parallel sign not appearing in this figure, is arranged at the other side of the roof 2, and across the ends of these side signs like I, are two end signs '4 and 5. These signs I, 4, and 5 are supported in position by suitable supports 5. Thesesigns fol-man enclosure I covered by a hinged cover 8. Each of these four signs, I, 4, and 5 has a co-ordinate array of electric lamps, the array for sign I being indicated at 9 and the array for sign 5 being in dicated at ID. The wiring for the lamps in the arrays like 9 and II] for all four of the signs are led through one or more outlets like I I in the roof 2, this wiring leading to the control apparatus indicated at I2 in the body of the truck.

The control apparatus I2 is illustrated in Fig.- l and the wiring diagram for the lamps like 9 and I0 is illustrated in Fig. 14 wherein the sign corresponding to I is indicated by the broken line I, the parallel sign of the other side is indicated by the broken line I, one end sign corresponding to 4 is indicated by the broken line 4' and the sign corresponding to 5 is indicated by the broken line 5. One of the lamps of the array 9 is indicated in Fig. 14 at 9', the corresponding lamp in the array I0 is indicated at ID, the corresponding lamp for the sign indicated by I is indicated at H, the corresponding lamp for the sign indicated at 4 is shown at I2, a corresponding lamp on the monitor panel I3 in Fig. l is shown at I4 in Fig. 14 and a corresponding lamp on the, monitor panel I5 in Fig. 1 is shown at IS in Fig. 14. The monitor panels I3 and I5 have a co-ordinate array of miniature lamps indicated at H and I8 respectively, corresponding to the co-ordinate arrays on the signs like I, 4, and 5.

While the signs like I, 4, and 5 are here illustrated as being arranged on top of the truck 3, they or any one may be supported in any other suitable manner, either by some other kind of a vehicle or by a stationary support such as a building. The lamps for the signs I, 4, and 5 and for the monitor panels I3 and I5, are energized by a suitable source of voltage, indicated in Fig. 14 as D. C. generator I9 which may be a power plant inside the truck 3, or it may be the usual -volt A. C. power line if the signs are arranged on a stationary support. The various lamps on the signs I, 4, and 5 and on the monitor panels I3 and I5 are illuminated with current from source l9 under control of two perforated tapes 2%, 2 I which are preferably motion picture 35 mm. film. The film should beacetate or other non-inflammable material. The tapes 20 and 2'I are propelled by a motor 22 suitably supported on the side of a casing 23 having suitable posts like 24 to support the monitor panels I3 and I5. The motor 22 is energized by current from the source I9.

The circuit for all of the lamps is controlled by two shoes schematically indicated at 25 and 26 in Fig. 14, both similar in construction and each carrying a co-ordinate array of yielding contacts as indicated in Fig. 6, and later described. As shown in Fig. 14, and later described, each of the shoes 25 and 26 can be positioned over either one of,the tapes 20 and 2I and for this purpose, shoe 25 has a cooperating contact plate 21 for tape 20 and a cooperating contact plate 28 for tape 2|, while shoe 26 has a contact plate 29 for tape 20 and a contact plate 39 for tape 21. In Fig. 14, shoe 25 is in an elevated and idle position, while the shoe 26 is lowered and operative to complete the circuit for lamps through the perforations in tape 2|, the circuit being completed through the plate 30, and in this case the lamps for all four of the signs are controlled by the tape 2I whereby the same message appears on all four of the signs indicated at I, 5, I", and 4. In this case, a bridge connection controlled by switch '3I connects the shoes 25 and 26 whereby the end of a message on one tape such as 2I or theend of a given program period, may be instantly followed by the message on tape 20, by rendering shoe 26 idle and rendering shoe 25 acc eeses).

tive. Also, one of the shoes or 26 can be-used as a spare for-the other, for either one or both films, 20, 2|. If desired, the'switch 3| may be left open and both of the 'shoes 25 and 26 made active t the same time, whereby the message on tape 2i will appear at "the lamps 9' and H for the side, signs, while the message onv tape 20 will appear at'the lamps like ill and |2f for the end signs. The lamps like I4 serve asa monitor for the lamps like Ill and I2 for the end signs, while the monitor lamps like l6 pertain to the lamps 9. and II for the side'signs. If the same message appears on all four of the signs, it is not necessary .toruse the monitor lamps on'both' of the panels l3'and l5, and one of these panels can be, disconnected as .indicatedby switches like 32 or The lamps on the main, signs like I, 4, and 5 are arranged in a suitable number of horizontalrows here indicated as seven in number, each tape like 2| as indicated in Figs. 1 and "6 having the same number of rows lengthwise of 'the film, and each contact shoe like 26 as shown in Fig. '6 having seven lengthwise rows of yielding contacts generally indicated at 34 inFig. 6. Each "contact of the group 34 completesthecircuit to a particular lamp when'it passes through an aperture in one of the tapes like 2! to contact a plate like 30. The message perforated on each tape like 20 and 2| travels across the lamps on all signs, as the tape moves, as is well understood. Preferably, the tape is driven at a speed such that the lamp circuit .is interrupted from 10 to 20, for example 14 times per second, and as above explained, this rate of interruption, in proportion to the thermal lag of the filament of a commercial lamp-is such as the lamp is not illuminated with normalbrilliance when the lamp is ener'gizedwith its ratedvoltage such as 120 volts.

As above'explained, the lamps are illuminated strip -35 of insulating material having a co ordinate array of bores 36 extending therethrough. The upper end of each bore is of larger diameter and has screw threads 31 for the threads-38 on a jack or sleeve 39. The lower portionof the bore 36 is elongated and of re--- duced diameter as indicated at 48 to slidirigly support a contact pin 4| which projects beyond thebottom-of the insulating strip 35, torest on the tape 2|. Pin 4| has an enlarged head' 42 which. slidesin the upper portion of bore 36. The pin 4| is urged downwardly by a spring 43 which electrically connects the jack 39 to the pin 4|, the jack 39 serving as an abutment for the upper end of spring 43. One conductor, as indicated at 44 for each lamp terminates in a plug 45 which fits in any. of the jacks 39, whereby all of the plugs like 45 can be removed from their jacks like 39 to disconnect the lamps from the shoes 26 whereby the shoe 25 may be removed for repair or replacement. r

The contact pins in the group 34, and one of which is indicated at 4|, are preferably of comparatively hard metal such as nickel chrome alloy, whilelthe plates like 39 are preferably. of comparatively soft material such as brass with or without, silver plating thereon. Each'plate like 30 is removably supported inpcsition and'for this purpose the casing 23 has a frame member 46 to support the plate 30 and plate 30. has a pair of U shap'ed lugs 41 and 48 (see Fig. 2 each 6 adaptedto engage underthehead 49 of a screw like 50. The front edge of the plate 30 is bent downwardly. at right angles to engage the front edge of the frame member 46, asindicated at 5|.

Secured to the front edge 5| is a handle 52 having a stud 53 to engage in an aperture 54 in the front. of the member 46. When it is desired .to replate. or resurface a plate like 30, its screws like 50 are loosened and the handle like 52 employed to remove the plate. I As shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 4 to '7, the shoe '26 slides on rails 55, 56 which form the sides of a frame 51 pivoted as indicated at 58 at-onesidepf the tape 20, to the topofthe casing23. The conductors like 44 from the shoe 26 are led to a connecting panel 60, and, such conductors have suificient length so that the shoe 26 maybe positioned over either one of the tapes 20 and 2|. Shoe 25 has a similarframe I51. ,i V

As shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5, the shoe 26 at eache'nd thereof has a supporting shoe like shoe 6| inFig. 4 to embrace itsrail like 55, the shoe 6| being 'urged to an elevated position by. a pair of spring pressed plungers 62 and 63, as shown in Fig. 5. .Also, each shoe has a downwardly extending pin like 64 to engage an aperture 65 at one end of the rail to center the contact shoe '26 ,over one of the tapes, and a similar aperture 66 at the other end of the rail tocenter the shoe 26 over the other tape. The shoe 6| carries spaced rail 55. 25 are brought down into operative relation with the contact plate 30 by operating a handle .69 to rotate a cam 10 engaging, the bottom of rail, 55 and carried at the bottom of theshoe 6L, The

other contact shoe 25 is similarly supported and constructed, whereby each of these shoes 25, 26. may be brought into operative relation with either one of the tapes 2|! or 2 I. As shown in Fig. 1, one side of the casing 2 has a compartment H for a film magazine 12 andthejopposite side of casing 28 hasa similar compartment l3 for asimilar film magazine 14, the casing 23' having means for removably supporting the magazines l2 and 74 in position. As shown in Fig. 10, this means comprises a shelf like1'l5 and 16 on the legs 11 and 18 of the casing 23 tosupportthe bottom of the magazine 12, the upper portion of legs l7 and i8 having a spring pressed detent i9, to catch apertures 8|, 82 at the upper end-portions of the magazine. The magazine 12 has an upper row 83 and a lower row 84 of film'spools to support the film 2| in a progressive series of vertical loops. The magazine-12 has atop 85 having an aperture 86 for egress of the film 2| and when magazine 12 is in position in casing 23, .the outlet 86 is below magazine 12. For the shorter length of film, it is v led from sprocket 81 through a friction drive 9|] into inlet 89, whereas for afull supply of film as shown in Fig. 1, the film is led from sprocket 81 7 through a friction drive 9| into. inlet 88.- The drive 9| also has an associated idle sprocket 92 so that the drivev 8i and 99 may be used for one short strip of film in magazine I2 and the drive 9I, 92 may be used for another short strip of film which may leave the magazine at the aperture I88 and enter it at inlet 98.

The magazines I2 and I4 are interchangeable, each having doors like I'I2,'I'I3 front and back, whereby if magazine 72 were loaded in compart- I'nent I3, the doors I12 which appear in Fig. 1 as front doors would then be rear doors, and doors I13 would be the outside or front doors, and the Spring catches like 19, 80, see Fig. 10, are positioned accordingly.

As shown in Figs, 10 and 11, the upper spools 83 are rotatably carried by an angle iron I30 bolted to the top 85 of magazine 72 by bolts like I32 having a spacer I33. The lower spools B4 are similarly carried by an angle iron I34 having a spacer I35 and bolts like I36. The particular bolt I36 shown in Fig. 11 also holds a bracket I31 having a pivot I38 for an arm I39 having at its outer end a spool I49 below inlet 88, see Fig. 10, to apply tension to either a full length or half length film entering at 88 and take up the slack while allowing such film to shrink or elongate' This tension is due to the weight of arm I39, or a spring not shown can be added to urge the arm I39 downwardly. A similar take up spool I4I on arm I42 is provided below aperture 89 to take up the slack when a short film enters at 89. As shown in Fig. 10, both rollers I40, I4I can be used for a full length film, or roller I4I can remain idle.

It has been found that the idle sprocket 81 with the friction drive 90 or 9I guides the film in a straight line without any additional edge guide. At the other side of the casing 23, a full length path for the film is provided, -a friction drive 93 in Fig. 2 being provided at the left end of the machine and an idle sprocket like 81 being provided in line with 87. The tape driving rolls are similar in all three of the friction drives 90, SI, 93. The drive 9| is shown in Fig. 4, wherein the tape 2| is led over a friction roll 94 driven by a hollow shaft 95 having an inner shaft 96 which is geared to the corresponding friction roll in the drive 90.

The roll 94 has a covering 97 of rubber or other resilient friction material and the film 2| is wrapped around the roll 94 for more than onehalf of its circumference by an idle roller 93. Below the roll 94 is arranged a pressure friction roll 99 having a rubber or other friction surface I to engage the film 2| and press it into engagement with the roll 94. Roll 99 is pivotally supported as indicated at IM and a screw I02 is adjusted to vary the pressure exerted by roll 99.

The motor 22 drives the three friction rolls like 94 and each drive has a clutch. As shown in Fig. 2, the friction drive 93 is geared to a driven gear H0 and the driving gear I II can be moved into and out of engagement with gear III by afork II2, see Fig. 8. Gear III slides on a shaft 3 having a worm gear H4 driven by a worm I I on the shaft of motor 22. Shaft II3'has a gear II6 which drives an idle gear I H, the latter driving a gear I IS on shaft I I9, the latter having a gear I which can be coupled to or uncoupled from gear I2I on the inner shaft 98 and a gear I22 which can be coupled to or uncoupled from a gear I23 on the hollow shaft 95. Gear I29 has a fork I24 and gear I22 has a fork I25. Any other suitable clutch means may be provided for connecting or disconnecting the friction drives 90, 9| and 93.

It will be apparent that news, advertising or other messages may be perforated on the tapes 20, 2 I, these tapes preferably being motion picture 8 film as it is readily available. Instead of employing sprockets like 81 and 92, use may be made of film which either does or does not have sprocket holes in combination with some other type of edge guide roller such as a smooth roller having a flange at each end thereof.

Instead of producing a traveling message on the sign or signs like 9, II], the tape like 20, 2| may be held stationary, or a plate having a message punched in it may be held stationary, to produce a stationary message.

The shoe frames 51 and I57, as shown in Fig. 1, in being pivoted permit the shoes 25 or 26 to be quickly raised and lowered for inspection or repair.

As the stand '23 in Fig. 1 may be made of light weight material such as aluminum, it will be apparent that the invention provides control apparatus which is light in weight and also compact. The equipment is also readily serviced, easy to manufacture and maintain. Also, the equipment gives insurance against breakdown and makes it possible to establish a new message on the sign with considerable speed, due to the facility for substituting one magazine for another and due to the ease of threading the tape.

Various modifications other than those described above may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

l. Control apparatus for traveling letter sign, said apparatus comprising a pair of parallel contact plates arranged in parallel tape paths, a pair of parallel rails extending crosswise of said paths, a shoe having a co-ordinate array of yielding contacts, means slidingly supporting said shoe on said rails, spring means urging said shoe in an elevated position, means operative to lower said shoe, and cooperating means between said shoe and at separated points along said rails for centering said shoe over either of said plates.

2. Control apparatus for traveling letter sign, said apparatus comprising means providing a tape path, a contact plate for said path, a pair of parallel rails extending crosswise of said path, a shoe having a coordinate array of yielding contacts, means slidingly supporting said shoe on said rails, spring means urging said shoe in an elevated position, means operative to lower said shoe, and cooperating means between said shoe and said rails for centering said shoe over said contact plate.

GEORGE MCGUIRE PIERCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date I 510,188 Pennock Dec. 5, 1893 1,050,203 Bickley Jan. 14, 1913 1,155,466 Bickley Oct. 5, 1915 1,326,864 Herman Dec. 30, 1919 1,616,363 Gammeter Feb. 1, 1927 1,627,993 Pedersen 1 May 10, 1927 1,651,275 Hirsh Nov. 27, 1927 1,717,370 Coleman June 18, 1929 1,726,348 Haase Aug. 27, 1929 1,769,060 Hendry July 1, 1930 1,831,562 Heisler Nov, 10, 1931 2,063,006 Rustad Dec. 1, 1936 

